Downstairs, ng Ke was leaning against a car, waiting for to embark on a journey across this country. I didn't have good cars. Only livestock trucks with plates were familiar to . I didn't know how much money he had.
When ng Qi saw it, she cried, saying it was too late to get into the car, and left standing alone in the wind.
I rushed out of the driver's cabin, perched on top, grabbed a rope, and began tying knots—sothing I had taught during the war. It might as well have been a dagger stabbing into .
I often used the dagger on my arm, so it felt strangely comfortable.
Surrounded by monkeys, they chattered mockingly with knowing smirks.
I looked at them expressionlessly. "Say whatever you want to say."
The vehicle had been in motion for a very long ti. It lingered in people's lives, weaving in and out. Yesterday, Captain Tujin stood at the gate, and ng Ke parked the car at the garrison.
Over the years, the paths had been laid for the two of us, and we followed him to that house. As soon as the door opened, a foul stench hit my nose.
A sharp pain shot through my hand. I desperately wanted to pull away, but I avoided touching the monkey. Using my own blood, I yanked the slip of paper from its hand, then unfolded it.
Looking at the long cut on my palm, I said, "What on earth are you doing? Why didn't you use your own blood?"
ng Ke replied coldly, "This man has a Ghost Baby in his belly. My blood might suppress it, but it has to fight back. While he constantly battles the Ghost Baby, does that make you his master?"
I hid my hand away and said, "Don't ever use my hand again!"
"You harness Yin energy, and your blood belongs to Yin. Using the charm of your blood to seal the child into his body makes it a bit safer." With that, ng Ke pressed our Blood Demon directly onto the belly of the man with the swollen stomach.
As the paper stuck to his abdon, the man and the entity within actually settled for a brief mont. The man, who had been trying to bite at his own stomach, temporarily regained his senses. He looked up weakly, glancing at his belly.
He muttered, "Brother, brother, brother, where are you? Co on, look—why is my stomach like this, brother, brother."
In his middle age, he grabbed his own large and filthy hands, saying, "Brother, co, don't be afraid. I'm here."
The man with the swollen stomach stared down at himself, tears flowing down his face. The big man said, "Brother, tell why this happened. Brother, I was wrong! Save , save , let never hear your voice again."
Faced with this emotional scene, I felt compelled to say sothing.
But the monkey beside interrupted in a cold voice, "Keep quiet. I'm going to peel it apart using this scrap of paper."
The two of us promptly shut our mouths. The monkey, all the while, murmured sothing about midterm burial, saying, "I've buried another. Give the child back."
The middle-aged man trembled but stayed silent. At last, ng Qi spoke up: "This Ghost Baby has already ford. If nothing is done, it will erupt. For now, I can suppress it temporarily with this paper! However, know this—the charm will last only three days. After that, the Ghost Baby will still be there. You can either let it erge or choose to lead it to its grave. Bring it back from the grave. That Ghost Baby cos in waves, and it sends its disciples to their deaths each ti. I hold no options for you beyond this path."
The middle-aged man mulled this over for a long mont before he nodded heavily in agreent.
He said to ng Liqi, "If this is all you can do, then so be it."
ng Qi stopped and declared icily, "Don't worry. I will prepare so other things. The Ghost Baby's speed in any form is unpredictable, so be ready. As you saw earlier, more blood offers so delay—use that blood well to keep him going."
With that, ng Qi got up and left the scene.
When the Mongolians erged, the two brothers finally sat down, looking back at each other. Catching glancing at them, they seed a bit bashful.
It was as if they had always told themselves, "This isn't our fault. For this service, I will charge extra. What I can tell you is: this costs more than panda blood." I didn't say much to them. The brothers barely managed to spit out whatever aning they clung to. But who would've expected them to fish out, from under their bed, a vintage thermos as a gift to offer instead?
The middle-aged man handed it to with care, saying, "Brother, please take it. I found it in the cetery—a real treasure."
I accepted the jade stopper, my instincts wanting to refuse, but my poverty and relentless journey wore down. For now, with food in shortage and the borders closing in, I slid it reluctantly into my pocket.
Seeing their hopeful eyes, I gripped a knife still marred with dried blood and drew another one. Looking at the blood, I turned to the middle-aged man next to and said, "Bring a bowl! What are you stunned for?"
Hearing us, the man jumped up, fumbling for a small tal basin, which he finally handed to , saying, "Brother, it doesn't have to be much. Just fill this basin."
Furious, I stared up and said, "This—is this still MY blood?"
The man, realizing he had overstepped, quickly replied, "Shaohao, the younger, the better!"
I bled up to half a bowl before stopping myself. The middle-aged man poured the collected blood into a small bowl alongside so ager offerings for his younger brother.
Before long, ng Ke returned! He approached , carrying two bundles, and stopped short before reaching . Passing sothing to from behind, he said, "Prepare a new map."
The middle-aged man handed the map directly to Li Qi. "I know the road. You fly there—don't worry, I'll reimburse you!"
Upon hearing I was to fly for the first ti in my life, I felt a small surge of joy. Gazing at Mang Qi, I silently willed him to accomplish this errand.
ng Ke hesitated briefly, then nodded and said, "Fine. This is the arrangent for now. You should leave first—hurry to Shan Dong."
From that mont on, the Mongolian seized my dagger and charged directly into the middle-aged man. His sword wasn't surrendered.
The younger brother sat in the car, joined only by a driver wearing a black mirror mask. Sun Wukong perched in the copilot seat, turning to stare, pointing with her finger, and saying, "You sit in the back."
I climbed into the backseat. On the bench, a few middle-aged disciples were hunched over, mouths slack. Grabbing tissues from my backpack, I rubbed vigorously at the upholstery. Were these truly unwilling riders?
As soon as the vehicle was fitted, the middle-aged man handed yet another knife, knowing there was already a dagger waiting up ahead in the hills. I took his offered knife, thanked him, and lashed it securely to my arm for ergencies.
I didn't know what to expect. Though I always wanted to sleep, when I opened my mind and Dantian late that night, staring into the lifeless expanse of mountains, I succumbed to fatigue and drifted off again.
In my dream, he appeared before once more, gazing at with that mischievous glint in his eyes. My heart burned with anger. Slowly, I advanced toward him. With a fisted blow to his face, I felt my knuckles striking sothing soft and cottony, as if sinking into wool.
A bullet grazed my forehead, leaving my face pale and clammy. I felt a second bullet zipping toward , sending flying backward through the air.
Clutching my head, I stumbled to my feet. A flash of white hair flickered before my eyes. The figure said calmly, "I advise you not to resist. This is our ti. I am intent on cultivating it."
Still clutching my forehead, I sneered, "This is my body. As long as you lack your own soul, it's useless! Why would a dove occupy a magpie's nest?"
The old figure chuckled, "You're right. It is your body. It is the magpie's nest. But rember, I can keep you alive for so ti. Today, I shall teach you how to inhale power quickly and strengthen yourself. Then, paired with your aunt's thirty years of nurturing , she'll have to double her effort to offer her son his ghost."
User Comments
0 comments from readers